El Proyecto: Year 1

Another school year is in the books.

This was the first year for my big extra credit project, and I think for the first year, it was successful.  Some tweaking and adjustments will need to be made, but I feel as if the overall goal was achieved: To have my students try foods that are native to Hispanic/Latino culture.

I did have to make a few compromises - not too many, but a few.  I'm not happy about that, and that is definitely one of the adjustments that will be made for next year - no compromises.

Here are the stats on which restaurants were visited:

Gran Agave (The Waterfront): 24 visits

La Hacienda (Century III Mall): 13 visits*

Emiliano's (multiple locations): 7

Mad Mex (multiple locations): 7

Smoke BBQ Taqueria (Homestead): 5

Patron (multiple locations): 3

Antojitos (McKeesport): 1

Mallorca (South Side): 1

Don Pablo's (Monroeville): 1

El Campesino (multiple locations): 1

And the one that I'm not proud of - Chipotle: 1

* - La Hacienda closed due to "kitchen problems" at the end of April. 

What were the determining factors for which restaurant each student visited?  The number 1 factor was location - the closer the restaurant was to school, the more frequently it was visited.  Gran Agave is less than 10 minutes from our school, and it is located in the most popular shopping complex in our area, so it was far more convenient to go there.  La Hacienda was located in Century III Mall, which sits at the other end of the borough.

Students were devastated when La Hacienda closed.  I wasn't.  I never ate there myself, which goes to show how much of a priority it was for me to get there.

Smoke BBQ Taqueria is also in Homestead, a stone's-throw away from the school, but 2 factors kept it from creeping into the top 3: Location (not located IN The Waterfront, but on 8th Ave., with metered parking and not far from a high-crime area) and Price (their prices are far higher than Gran Agave's for what you get - although I argue that the QUALITY of the food is far, FAR better). 

Having multiple locations also helped determine where a student went to eat.  I had students visit the Emiliano's in the South Side, as well as the one in the North Hills - it just depended on which relatives they visited, or which direction they were headed in at the time.  Some students visited the Mad Mex in Shadyside, while others ate at the Oakland location.

That "multiple location" thing also helps with the popularity of the chain itself - which is why Mad Mex seems to always win "Best Mexican Restaurant" in Pittsburgh.  I have my own opinions.

Of course, my project was met with some criticism - despite it being "extra credit".  One of the most difficult aspects of teaching a foreign language in Pittsburgh is having the students connect with the culture in their own community - Latinos exist in Pittsburgh, but because so many other ethnic groups are dominant in the area, their culture here is often overlooked.  I wanted my students to discover the culture that exists - some did, some did not...some did not try.

Given the $1664.69 that was spent by my students and their families at these restaurants this year, I'm happy with those who gave it a shot - those who tried something new or different.

2011-12 School Year Receipt Collection

I would love to make this project a requirement, especially since "Communities" is a national foreign language standard, but I cannot because A.) it requires money, and B.) it requires travel.  

On the money end, my argument is that everyone has to eat - why not spend your money by challenging your normal eating habits?  The worst thing that you may discover is that you do not like a certain food - but the foods of the entire culture do not have to be judged on one meal alone.  Next time, try something different.  

On the travel end, I don't have much of an argument.  Most of my students do not have their driver's licenses yet, and even if they do, their parents sometimes - sometimes - regulate when and where they drive.  Challenging adults to change their habits is a challenge in itself; while I am a firm believer that you CAN "teach an old dog new tricks", not everyone is so liberal.

The students themselves made it clear that their eating habits were challenged as a result of this project - an accomplishment that makes me very proud of what this project has done for them:

 "I would definitely go back to Emiliano's.  I never expected to really enjoy this food because I really only eat tacos once in awhile, no other type of Mexican or Spanish food.  This experience made me want to experiment with new foods." - Kevin G.

"Gran Agave has to be one of my favorite restaurants.  I love Mexican food...it is starting to get really busy down there because of their very delicious foods." - Zach F.

"...there were people of Latin descent working there [at Gran Agave].  They were all speaking Spanish to each other, and I actually understood a little bit of what they were saying." - Tyler S.

"...Antojitos had the most appetizing foods I ever had in Pittsburgh.  This trip made me consider going back again real soon." - Cato R. (moved to Pittsburgh from Michigan last year)

"I would go back for the foods [at Smoke BBQ Taqueria] as well as I like the restaurant style.  It is very comfortable, feels like you're in your house - it's just very warm and inviting." - Breela D.

"My [fajitas] arrived to my table very quickly and was hot and steaming...it had a lot of different spices and was something I had never tried before...I would definitely come back [to Patron] because I enjoyed the food and the service was wondeful." - Sade S.

"...everything was delicious...I would go back [to Smoke BBQ Taqueria] again to try their other things like the chili and their Frito dipper things.  I now know why [Miss Cibulka goes] there all the time and hope to go back next weekend." - Nate R.

A few pictures students took at the restaurants (this is not all of them, and this part was optional)

 Hasta el 29 de agosto, mis estudiantes.  Buen provecho.

If you have any ideas or suggestions for this project, please comment below or email me at senoritacibulka@gmail.com.

...Emiliano's (South Side)

*Sigh*

I never like to be critical, nor nit-picky, nor condescending.  Hard to do sometimes being a teacher, and even in times when I think that I am NOT being that way, kids find infinite ways to take a situation and read it as something completely different from what you intended.

Constructive criticism is necessary for improvement - of anything.  As a teacher, it is necessary for me to give constructive criticism for students to become better learners, better role models, better members of society...

It's not easy being a teacher.

It pains me to be critical of restaurants, too, but that's what this blog is for.  It especially pains me to be critical of a Mexican restaurant...

Emiliano's - I'm sorry.  I am.  I had high hopes.

I should have known that Emiliano's fell into that Chi-Chi's-type classification of Mexican restaurants, right along with Don Pablo's, but maybe a bit above Mad Mex in terms of authenticity.  Having 3 locations shows that they are definitely doing something right - and given that it was Saturday afternoon, the restaurant had a decent clientele for a neighborhood that thrives on an office lunch crowd with plenty of competition.  However, I would hardly call the food "Mexican".

I was down on the South Side for 2 reasons: 1.) To work out at LA Fitness, and 2.) to attend I Made It! Mine, an event organized by the I Made It! Market and Revive Marketing Group.  I attended a similar event in Bakery Square in December, and I also attended Handmade Arcade at the D.L. Lawrence Convention Center in November, and had a lot of fun.

Baby Kocher, donning the Monster Hoodie I bought him from Handmade Arcade back in November

 I met Mrs. Kocher and Baby Kocher to peruse the market, held in the former site of the Joseph Beth Bookstore (the second location, not where LA Fitness is now).  Many of the same vendors were there, and I ended up buying some magnets from Leroy's Place for my mom, brother, and James.  I also ran into Sylvia from the 'Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tours (great minds think alike, right?)

Mrs. Kocher wanted to do lunch, and with baby in tow, I decided that Emiliano's may be a good choice since it was close and could accommodate a 1-year old.  And, of course, I hadn't reviewed them yet, although some of my students had gone there for extra credit (way to beat me there, kids!)

I do love the way that Emiliano's is decorated - especially the tin sculptures on the walls and around the restaurant, which kind of reminded me of the ones I loved at the Tin Front Cafe.  Unfortunately, I did not get pictures of them!  I hate when that happens!  Here is a shot of the bar as you walk into the restaurant (not the same, I know):

Sombreros on the wall?  Verde would not approve!

We were seated at a booth - 2 adults and a 1-year old - and we were not offered a high chair.  Uh, hello?  1-year old?  Mrs. Kocher had to ask the host to bring us one, which he did.  Baby Kocher was not exactly his happy-go-lucky self on this day, so that high chair helped immensely. 

The usual chips and salsa were brought out - a must at any Mexican restaurant.  The chips were good, and the salsa was ok, but tasted jarred and not-so-fresh. I could be wrong, but they are definitely not winning any awards for "Best Salsa":

The usual chips and salsa

We both ordered iced teas, and a milk for the baby, which took a little while to be delivered to our table.  People have commented to me that the service at Emiliano's is slow, but friendly, and I was definitely finding that out quickly.  Our waiter was so, so nice - but...

Deciding what to eat was difficult, because they do have an expansive menu, but I finally decided upon the Enchiladas Poblanas, and Mrs. Kocher got a Taco Salad.  She commented that she was being boring, but I wasn't going to argue with her (I know better!)

Our food took quite awhile to come out.  In fact, it came - and it wasn't our food, so it took another 8-ish minutes for our "real" food to come out. 

Enchiladas Poblanas

*Sigh* It wasn't good.  It just wasn't good at all.  The sauce was mole poblano, which, if you follow my blog, has become a recent favorite of mine, after first trying it at Las Velas, then again at Gran Agave (which wasn't even great, but did not deter me from my preference), and yet again at Verde - but this was just bad.  Too sweet, not spicy, and bland. 

Also, do you see all of that lettuce?  THAT WOULD NOT BE THERE IN MEXICO.  Iceburg lettuce is just not common.  Covering the dish in colorful vegetables is fine for presentation, but not for taste.  I was more disappointed in this than I was with my meal at Gran Agave.

Speaking of iceburg lettuce, this was Mrs. Kocher's Taco Salad.  Nothing special:

Taco Salad

Emiliano's definitely caters to the American crowd, and I would not call it "authentic" at all.  If you are looking for Mexican food in Pittsburgh, Las Velas or Verde are still, to me, your best options.  Even though I haven't been to El Campesino in awhile, from what I remember, they are also much more authentic than this.  Pretty decorations are nice, but I'm looking for good, quality Mexican (or Hispanic, or Latin American) food.  Maybe I made a poor choice in my entree, but I'm not too picky about what I order - as long as the quality is there.

Mexican food fail. 

Also, Mrs. Kocher had to ask for a spoon 3 different times before she got one so that she could feed Baby Kocher.  We did get some entertainment out of having him try salsa and black beans in the meantime:

Baby Kocher: Not a fan of beans, nor salsa. I see a project in the making...

 I'm sorry, Emiliano's.  I really shouldn't be this apologetic, but I was really hoping that you would come through.  Everyone with whom we interacted was so friendly and nice, which makes me feel worse...

*Sigh*

Emiliano's Mexican Restaurant (South Side Location)

2557 E. Carson St.

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Website: http://www.emilianos.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emilianos-South-Side/161379893891089?ref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Emilianospgh

...Project Update: 1st Nine Weeks

Do my students really go to these restaurants that I recommend?

The answer: Yes.  Some go just because they want/need extra credit, but others go because they like the idea of trying something new.  

For some, it's both.

In the first quarter of the 2011-12 school year, here are the restaurants that were visited, along with some quotes directly from the reports that the students wrote (I only used initials to refer to the students, for privacy reasons):

La Hacienda (West Mifflin): 5 Visits

Not surprisingly, the only Mexican restaurant in the school district got the most visits.  Here is what some students had to say:

"I would recommend this restaurant to everyone because the food is really good, they give you a lot, and it is inexpensive." - C.S.

"...I looked through the menu and saw unfamiliar foods, so I asked my waiter about them...I wasn't shocked about my [taco salad] - I should have went for something different." - A.P.

Emiliano's (South Side/North Hills): 3 Visits

"Overall, I enjoyed Emiliano's!  I liked it a lot because it was very different from the usual restaurants I go to...I would definitely go back to this restaurant because I liked how nice all of the workers were, the inside of the restaurant was very unique, and most importantly, I thought the food was great!...I think I will being to try more Mexican foods because of my experience here." - C.V.

"...this was a different experience of eating at a [Hispanic] restaurant, rather than Eat 'N Park." - D.B.

"I had never heard of the restaurant before, but my aunt suggested it...the salsa was different than any kind I have ever had.  It was a little spicier than I am used to, but it was still very good...I would most definitely recommend this restaurant to anybody that likes Mexican food." - R.K.

Gran Agave (Homestead): 2 Visits

"I would definitely want to go back.  The service, scenery, and food were excellent.  That was the first authentic restaurant that I have been to...After trying the chalupa and enchilada, I would definitely want to have some more." - Z.F.

"In all, the food was good, well-priced, and had a different taste." - R.A.

Mad Mex (Shadyside/Oakland): 2 Visits

"The restaurant itself was so cute!  It had interesting paintings on the wall that reminded me of the Day of the Dead.  There was also Spanish written on them, which we attempted to translate....Since I am used to the taco meat from Giant Eagle, this definitely was a delicious change..." S.A.

Patron (Monroeville): 1 Visit

"[My meal] was served on a platter and looked very delicious - I couldn't wait to dig in...I was very pleased with my meal.  To drink I had a Mexican pop that I never had before.  It was something different and tasted like a flavored fruit punch...I enjoyed the food and the service was wonderful." - S.S.

Mallorca (South Side): 1 Visit

"I chose to go with my mom for lunch because we both wanted to try something new...When I was looking at the menu, I had no idea what to get because I wanted to try something new...I asked our waiter what was the most authentic thing on the sandwich portion on the menu...I got the Sandwich de Jamon Serrano, Manchengo, y Berros...I really enjoyed this meal at Mallorca.  It was very different and something new that I never tried before.  There is always a first time for everything." - P.F.

Smoke BBQ & Taqueria: 1 Visit

"I liked both the Agua Fresca and the chicken tacos very much.  I liked the Agua Fresca because it tasted like pure strawberry juice...I didn't think I would like the chicken tacos, but they were surprisingly really good...I would go back to Smoke because the food was awesome, especially since I don't like Mexican and Spanish food." - M.E.

I am hoping that more students try restaurants, whether they need to or not.  Most of the complaints that I have gotten are that places are too far (most of my students don't drive) or that they don't have money to go.  I keep telling them - you've got to eat!  Why not kill two birds with one stone?  (Pardon the cliche).  

I am always open to feedback, good or bad (but respectful), so please feel free to comment!  

A big thanks to my students and the restaurants that have been so supportive of my project!